The 2022 Tour de France starts on Friday, July 1, in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a 13.2km individual time trial around the centre of the city that will determine the first rider to wear the yellow jersey as the overall leader of the Tour’s General Classification. In total, the riders will cover 3,346.5km spread over 21 stages (including three travel and/or rest days) with two time trials, six stages for sprinters, seven “hilly” stages that look perfect for breakaways, and six mountain stages (including five summit finishes). After taking a close look at all of them, here are the eight Tour de France stages we think you’ll want to tune in for:

STAGE 2 – ROSKILDE TO NYBORG (202KM) – SATURDAY, JULY 2

On paper, Stage 2 looks pretty mundane—and if the weather’s calm, it might be. But if it rains and/or the wind is gusting as the riders wind their way down the western coast of Zealand, we could see splits in the peloton and crashes as nervous riders fight to stay at the front and out of harm’s way. The stage ends with a ride across the Great Belt Bridge, an 18km span connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen. The wind could be at its worst here, essentially making it impossible for riders dropped from the main peloton to rejoin the leaders, eliminating them from contending for the stage win—and possibly the Tour.

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STAGE 5 – LILLE MÉTROPOLE TO ARENBERG PORTE DU HAINAUT (153.7KM) – WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

For the first time since 2018, Stage 5 brings the riders across the cobblestones of northern France for a stage that resembles a miniature version of Paris-Roubaix, a one-day race in April nicknamed the “Hell of the North.” Starting in Lille, the stage covers only 154km, but boasts 11 sectors of pavé for a total of 19.4km of cobbled roads. Counting down from 11 to 1, each sector is given a star rating according to its difficulty, and while none of the 5-star sectors from April’s main event have been included (mercifully), there are several 4-star sectors that will certainly blow the race apart. (We’ve got our eyes on Sectors 5 through 3, the longest and hardest of the 11 that the riders are forced to tackle.) And don’t get us started on the weather: if it rains, this stage could go a long way toward deciding the Tour.

STAGE 7 – TOMBLAINE TO LA SUPER PLANCHES DES BELLES FILLES (176.3KM) – FRIDAY, JULY 8

The first summit finish of the 2022 Tour, Stage 7 ends atop what has become a first week fixture in recent years: la Planche des Belles Filles. First climbed in 2012, the climb has appeared four times since, with all but one of those appearances coming during the Tour’s first week. This year, the riders will also tackle the gravel utility road that was added to the top of the climb in 2019. Essentially an old goat path, this steep, unpaved final stretch gives the climb its “Super” designation, and with pitches that hit 24 percent, it will certainly deliver an exciting finish–and possibly a new rider to wear the yellow jersey.

STAGE 11 – ALBERTVILLE TO COL DU GRANON SERRE CHEVALIER (151.7KM) – WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

The Tour’s second week opens with a trio of Alpine stages, all of which are short, but packed with climbs. Wednesday’s Stage 11 looks to be the hardest, with four categorised climbs including the beautiful Category 2 Lacets de Montvernier (who’s tightly packed hairpins look incredible from above), the “Beyond Category” Col du Galibier (which at 2,642m is the highest point in this year’s Tour), and a summit finish on the Col du Granon (whose 2,413m finish line makes it the highest summit finish in the race as well). That’s a lot of high-altitude climbing jammed into a relatively short stage, and at barely the midway point of the race, the standings should be close enough that we’ll see big attacks from the GC contenders.

STAGE 12 – BRIANÇON TO ALPE D’HUEZ (165.1KM) – THURSDAY, JULY 14

As if Stage 11 didn’t offer enough mountains, Stage 12 brings three more “Beyond Category” ascents, including a summit finish on one of the most famous climbs in Tour history: Alpe d’Huez. Beginning in Briançon, the race takes the riders back over the “easy” side of the Galibier (23km @ 5.1 percent) before a long ride down into the valley. The Col de la Croix de Fer (29km @ 5.2 percent) comes next and brings the riders above 2,000m for the fourth time in two days. But let’s be real: this stage is all about the summit finish on Alpe d’Huez, whose 21 hairpins are each named after riders who have won stages atop the mountain. And lest we forget: it’s also Bastille Day, which means the fans will be crazy and the French riders will do everything they can to win.

STAGE 14 – SAINT-ÉTIENNE TO MENDE (192.5KM) – SATURDAY, JULY 16

If the riders haven’t fully recovered from their trip through the Alps, Stage 14 could produce a few surprises. Starting in Saint-Étienne, the stage heads southwest into the heart of France’s Massif Central, a rugged region known for sharp climbs and intense heat. The racing should be fast from the start as riders battle to join the day’s big breakaway. (Two early Category 3 climbs should help get the party started.) Things remain jagged and windy from there as the riders bounce and wind their way down toward the finish in Mende, where two more Category 3 ascents await before the Category 2 Côte de la Croix-Neuve (3km @ 10.2 percent) climbs to the finish line on an airstrip that sits on a plateau just outside of town. Short but steep, the climb offers the perfect opportunity for riders seeking to win the stage—or GC contenders hoping to gain some time on any unsuspecting rivals—and we’ve seen both happen in recent years.

STAGE 17 – SAINT-GAUDENS TO PEYRAGUDES (129.7KM) – WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

Like the second week, the Tour’s third week opens with three days in the mountains—this time the Pyrenees. Of the three, Stage 17 is most likely the hardest, with more climbs, fewer kilometres, and a tough summit finish in Peyragudes. The stage begins with a long false flat that grinds its way up to the base of the day’s first ascent, the Category 1 Col d’Aspin (12km @ 6.5 percent). The Category 2 Hourquette d’Ancizan (8.2km @ 5.1 percent) comes soon after, followed by a long descent back down into the valley.

But it’s the finale that packs the biggest punch with two climbs crammed into the final 30km. And given how short the stage is, we could see attacks launched from the GC before the final climb, which means the Category 1 Col de Val Louron-Azet (10.7km @ 6.8%) is fair game. Otherwise, the Category 1 summit finish in Peyragudes (8km @ 7.8%) will deliver all the excitement. These aren’t the biggest mountains in the Pyrenees, but with a total stage distance of only 130km and all climbing loaded into the back half of it, we can expect intense, aggressive racing.

STAGE 18 – LOURDES TO HAUTACAM (143.2KM) – THURSDAY, JULY 21

Clocking in at only 143km, Stage 18 brings three big climbs, starting with the “Beyond Category” Col d’Aubisque (16.4km & 7.1 percent). The highest Pyrenean summit in this year’s Tour, the Aubisque is an unrelenting beast of a climb—especially if it’s hot. A long, scary descent then takes the riders down into the valley and to the foot of the day’s next challenge, the Category 1 Col de Spandelles (10.3km @ 8.3 percent), whose summit comes about 18km from the base of the day’s final climb, the “Beyond Category” climb to Hautacam, which has been the host of some historic Pyrenean battles since its first inclusion in 1994. This is the last chance for any climbers hoping to win or gain time on the General Classification before the final time trial, so we expect an exciting finish.

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